light vs darkness

Hope Against Hope – Light at the End of the Tunnel?

/ Bob

Hope is found throughout the scripture. The Greek and Hebrew words which are often translated as hope involve the concept of waiting – specifically waiting on God. In Romans 8 we read that hope which is seen is not hope. We hope for what is not seen. Hope lives in the future in spite of our present struggles.

Is Hope the Light at the end of the Tunnel? No

The light at the end of the tunnel is something we can see that tells us that end of the tunnel is just ahead. But Romans 8 says that hope which is seen is not hope. When there is no light we still have hope because the invisible God is at the end of the tunnel. In fact, the light within us is Jesus Christ and He’s all the light we need in every tunnel.

But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.

Because those are the people who have real hope – those who don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel but know personally the God Who waits for them at the end of the tunnel and Who, in fact, occupies the entire tunnel. We wait upon Him. We hope in Him. We find our light in Him. In our present sufferings He is our hope of future glory. Furthermore, He is with us always even to the end of the age – or in this case – to the end of the tunnel.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 21, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 07.21.2024 – Job 9.13 & 14 – Hope Against HopeDownload

Light for a Dark World – Ambassadorship 101

/ Bob
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 we read that we, as Christians, are ambassadors for Christ and that we are to be engaged in the ministry of reconciliation between God and mankind. The world is groaning under the weight of sin and decay. Antisemitic protests, the fight over abortion, economic fears and terroristic threats are on our minds and are reinforced by the 24 hour news cycle. We have the solution. We know the One in Whom is found our hope – our salvation. To keep this glorious truth to ourselves is simply wrong.

And yet, we struggle to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ because we find it too personal and would like to confine our spiritual discussions to our close friends and immediate family. We don’t share the Gospel because we don’t want to be seen as holier-than-thou and we sure don’t want people confronting us concerning what we believe. That kind of attention is not something we seek.

The world is crying out for hope, for peace, for love, for joy – for light in the darkness. Jesus said that we as believers are the light of the world – a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. We cannot hide our light but rather share our light for all to see so that they can see and hear what we do and say and, in so doing, glorify our heavenly Father. We are Ambassadors for Christ!


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. It is Part 3 of a series of Bible study lessons entitled “Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ.” Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
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Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
class-notes-week-3-05.05.2024-amassadorship-101-light-for-a-dark-worldDownload

Overcoming Temptation

/ Bob

Overcoming Temptation – James 1:13-18

We know what is right and we know what is wrong. We want to do what is right but we are constantly tempted to do what is wrong. Paul describes this dilemma in Romans 7 and it is all too familiar a struggle in our daily lives. James begins his letter by emphasizing our response to the trials we face. In verse 13 James pivots to explore the nature of temptation.

God tests us, but He does not tempt us. We need to have a clear concept of how we are tempted so that we don’t fall into the traps set by Satan and so that we don’t lightly pass over our sin as just part of the human experience. Satan may set the trap, but we are too easily fooled because we fail to see how he is using our own desires to bait the trap.

On the other hand, God – the Creator of all that is and the One Who created us as His prized possession – offers us truth and light to counteract Satan’s darkness and lies. And so we pray as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 13, 2023. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james-study-guide/ . Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .
Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
class-notes-08.13.2023-overcoming-temptationDownload

How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World? – Part 3

/ Bob

How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World ~ Part 3

In order to live Godly lives in an ungodly world, we Christians have to first understand that this world is not our home. We are resident aliens just passing through this planet. We are chosen by God, saved by God, and kept by God so that we can carry out His plan to bring light into a dark world.

Therefore, we have to set our minds on things above, not on this things of this world. We have to have a paradigm shift from following the world’s way of thinking to following God’s way of thinking. We have to know who we are in Christ and, as we read in 1 Peter 1:3. we have to prepare our minds for action and, being sober-minded, we must set our hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ.

Next week we will focus on how to avoid conformity to the world’s way of thinking through holiness.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

class-notes-03.26.2023-how-do-we-live-godly-lives-in-an-ungodly-world-part-3Download